FINALLY … A FOURTH BOOK

I meant to blog in March about my fourth children’s fairy novel. But, unusual and sad events intervened and well, I forgot. So this is really my March blog.

March started off well. Hubby and I were looking forward to a much anticipated holiday to Cyprus; although Covid had reared it’s ugly head in China, South Korea, Italy and Tenerife. But 11 March came and our holiday went ahead. We stayed in a small hotel on the edge of Paphos.

Just before we flew out, I’d managed to publish my fairy book A Fairy in Flight on Amazon kindle. There was not really any time to promote it, but I planned to let people know about the e-book on return from holiday. So here it is:

I particularly like the cover on this one, designed by my talented daughter Fran. It portrays the two main characters in the four books, Lucy Appleton and her fairy friend Fiona, a rather plump and grumpy aging fairy.

I have written this as the last in the series; although I have left it slightly open in case I decided to revisit their world at some point in the future. Here’s the link in case you would like to know more: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fairy-Flight-Book-ebook/dp/B085HWJ6WS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=A+Fairy+in+Flight+by+Carol+Waterkeyn&qid=1587372571&s=books&sr=1-1

Our holiday became more and more strange as the days went on, and things started closing around us. Although there were only about four known cases of the virus on the island at that time, they began the lockdown process. First it was the archaelogical sites and museums, then the shops, cafes and restaurants. Luckily we could eat all our meals in the hotel, and the supermarket and little kiosks were still open. We still managed some very pleasant walks along the promenade and around some ancient ruins.

A visit to the old town of Paphos, where the market is usually held, was a very spooky experience with virtually no one in sight apart from one or two builders doing renovations. Nevertheless, we were enjoying our stay and the weather but felt ready to go home. On our last day, we were due to fly out late afternoon. As we packed our suitcases, the news came through that back in the UK, my mother had passed away suddenly that morning, a complete and horrible shock.

I had dedicated the fourth fairy book to my mother and father, now both deceased, but at the time I wrote the dedication, Mum was very much alive. How bizarre is that?!

Bluebells and blue days

Over the last few days I’ve been thinking I should write something down to record these strange times. We are in a lockdown situation due to the Coronavirus outbreak worldwide. Suddenly we are not invincible and can no longer do the things that most of us took for granted.

This virus is indiscriminate. It doesn’t matter who you are; whether rich or poor, famous or not. You’ve a slightly better chance of pulling through if you are young and fit but it’s not guaranteed.

And so, I’ve been thinking about my own mortality. This is not only because of the virus but, in the middle of March, I lost my dear mum. It was sudden, and had nothing to do with the virus. Since then, as well as grieving, everything has been made doubly difficult due to the current restrictions.

But in many ways I feel so lucky. I don’t have to go out to work, I live in a lovely part of Dorset with my husband, and I can potter in our pretty garden or go out for walks. I am able to self isolate a lot of the time, except for food shopping and some errands to do with my mum’s passing.

We are all being helped by a team of angels in our hospitals, care agencies, food stores, councils, police and more who are putting themselves on the line. I am in awe of their selflessness. And there are more people behind the scenes helping their communities. On social media, too, as well as those providing the bad news there are people trying to cheer us up with their silliness.

I think life could be very different from now on. We are learning to appreciate what’s important, to value our family and friends and the people who contribute to our society, and, hopefully, to move towards a kinder world.

A few days ago, on one of our outings on foot, my husband and I discovered a wood resplendent in bluebells that we hadn’t found before. What a joy that was at a time of darkness.